1 Career Delayed By Another Ford Wants To Teach At Osceola But Basketball Is Calling Again

August 28, 1988|By Frank Carroll of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — The Chicago Express of the World Basketball League has resurrected Frank Ford's pro career, which in turn has delayed his plan to teach and coach at Osceola High School after the league's 1988 season ends.

''I'll be home Sept. 14 to meet with Mr. Principal Jack Strickland to work it out,'' Ford, 22, said Friday by phone from Chicago.

''Coming to Chicago messed up a chance to start as a guidance counselor when school opened,'' said Ford, Florida's ''Mr. Basketball'' in 1983 when he attained All-Southern honors after leading Osceola to an undefeated Class AAA state championship.

Strickland confirmed he will interview Ford, an Auburn University graduate, next month for a possible staff position.

Kowboys basketball coach Ed Kershner, Ford's basketball coach at Osceola from 1980-83, hinted last summer that Ford wanted to hang his degree at his alma mater.

Ford is excited by the potential career change.

''What I've learned as a college player, with the Lakers and Express, can't do anything but help me in coaching. The more basketball I'm around, the more I'll benefit on and off the court,'' he said.

One of Ford's teammates this season is Larry Jordan, the older brother of Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan.

''The Express already has asked the team to return to next year's tryout camp, even though management is talking about moving to Springfield (Ill.),'' Ford said. ''But that's next year. Coaching is the next bandwagon I want to jump on.''

Ford says pro ball has done little to alter his personality.

''I'm still me, the same low-key, down-to-earth boy I've always been,'' he said. ''It was a great opportunity to be drafted by the Lakers. The Express is a top organization, too.''

However, Ford said he was skeptical of the WBL as it attempted to get off the ground.

''I was very tentative, but when I was at Auburn putting my transcripts together to come back to Kissimmee, they the WBL called and asked me to come to a tryout,'' he said.

A four-year starter for Auburn, Ford, nicknamed the ''Baby Bull,'' was a 6- foot-4 off-guard and the school's fifth-leading all-time scorer with 1,389 points. He started all but one of 129 games and led the Southeastern Conference Tigers into four consecutive NCAA tournaments.

After averaging career highs of 12.9 points and 6 rebounds as a senior, Ford was Los Angeles' sixth-round choice -- the 138th pick overall -- in the NBA's 1987 draft.

In the Lakers' final cut last year, Ford was a victim of size on a team led by 6-9 guard Magic Johnson. The average height of an NBA player is 6-7.

Satisfied he had given it his best shot, Ford returned to Auburn to finish a degree in education. He was looking forward to the transition -- until the Express called.

A haven for the little man, the WBL is limited to players 6 feet 4 and shorter. Many are Continental Basketball Association refugees or former college standouts judged too small by NBA standards.

With four U.S. and two Canadian clubs, the WBL has been labeled the first truly international professional league. Expansion to 10 teams next season and a foreign division by 1990 is being studied.

In addition to the Express, there are franchises in Youngstown, Ohio, Fresno, Calif., Las Vegas, Nev., Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta.

Rosters are restricted to 10 active players and two-man taxi squads. A $200,000 cap is placed on team salaries with the majority of players earning between $8,000 and $10,000 for a 54-game season that begins in mid-May and runs through Sept. 10. Ford reportedly signed for more than double the average.

For fans used to NBA rules, the WBL has a few interesting rule variations: Teams play four 10-minute quarters, have eight seconds to advance the ball into the frontcourt, and 30 seconds to get off a shot.

A jump ball starts each quarter.

The 3-point field goal line is 20 feet, 6 inches, compared with 22 feet in the NBA.

In place of overtime is a non-timed sudden death period, and the first team to score an additional seven points wins.

Given the failures of the American Basketball Association, the World Hockey and World Football Leagues, the United States Football League and the North American Soccer League, it remains to be seen if yet another variation in professional sports can make the financial grade.